Friends + Bay of Islands + iceberg update

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A quieter week or so since finishing our South Island travels - relaxing with Ron and Sheila in Christchurch and then in Auckland with friend, Lee, from France. Both Sheila and Lee vying for top spot in our "best home cooked meal" category - but afraid Lee had to be disqualified due to his professional catering career with the UN. He did pass on a tasty tip to use avocado oil (local, of course) (+lemon juice, s/p, fresh parsley) for a great salad dressing.

After 4 or 5 days of over indulgence we were back to YHA's and self catering - now into salads (with said avocado oil) now that we have found the sun in north North Island. We are currently in our best YHA in Paihia with our own balcony and apartment - see left.

A few non-descript days just north of Auckland (we have been spoiled by South Island views and quietness) until we hit Paihia and the Bay of Islands. These piccies from a day cruise give an idea of this idyllic area. Big competition to our other cruises in Abel Tasman NP and Marlborough Sounds - but has to win this trips accolade for top island area as it also had the sun!

This is front street of Russell - a wonderful quiet town across from Paihia and definitely the place to stay. We chilled out for a whole day just doing nothing.

ICEBERG UPDATE

After our great trips amongst the icebergs (see previous blog) - see this link that Sheila spotted on what happened a week or so after we had been there - the photo shows the sort of boat we were in - must have been an adrenaline trip that day!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3261046/Thunderous-roar-as-massive-glacial-iceberg-splits-in-two/

COINCIDENCE

Had to meet someone we knew from the UK and a day after leaving Lee we bumped into Geoff and Val - a mutual friend of Lee's and ours. They were just starting their trip - wish it was us! We have just a few days left now before Perth for 2 weeks and home.

Relaxing pools and First Responders with helicopters

These hot pools overlooking Lake Tekapo were an ideal way to relax after a long walk and after being "on the road" for 7 weeks. 3 pools all at different temperatures to loll around in and sunbathe on the loungers in between. Aaaaaah!!!

We had a great room at the YHA there - right by the lake front (a lot of the YHA's are like in the UK - set up years ago in idyllic hiking areas by enthusiasts and developed and maintained, so that now they in in prime locations eg. the Ambleside one and others) and with a view across the turquoise expanse - this is taken just in front of our room in - the sign says "Posh Seat"!

We were at Mt Cook for another few days after the iceberg trip and got some great views of Mt Cook - the ones you see on my Picasa web album (all downloaded now we are at Ron and Sheilas for a day or two - access from picture area on left of this blog) are just a few of the dozens I took - however did we manage with just film in our cameras?



For those following in our footsteps to NZ - there is an excellent museum with various films at the Heritage Hotel dedicated to Sir Edmund Hillary - great films on his life and also the local Search and Rescue team. We went to a fascinating talk by one of the SAR team - just like our First Responders really - except they use helicopters, climbing gear and work on dangerous mountain tops in icy conditions!

A very useful indoor spot, together with the excellent DOC information centre, for all the times when you can't see the mountains - probably most of the time.

Teaching amongst the glaciers

MT COOK

This is Mt Cook, highest mountain in NZ, and seen over the nearby glacial lake with the wonderful blue caused by the particles brought down by the glacier.

We are staying at the YHA at Mt Cook village

with these brilliant views - costs a bit less ($80) than the swanky Heritage Hotel further in the village ($600-$900 a night) and full of Koreans and Japanese.  On one of the walks in probably the cleanest air in the world, we saw one of them in a mask!!!  Acceptable in polluted Kathmandu, possibly London and Tokyo, maybe at air conditioned Singapore airport (lots of them spotted there) - but here!!!!!!!!!

TEACHING

For the teachers amongst you, how about this for a job - 11 pupils and views similar to the photo above - applications to Mr G Honeybone.  And of even more interest to tennis players - a court right next door - probably like Heversham at the moment - frozen all winter.

ICEBERGS

Went on a brilliant boat trip all among the icebergs broken off from the end of the Tasman Glacier - really exciting trip in a small boat and close up to the 'bergs that were moving along the lake all the time and occasionally turning over or breaking up - well worth the money and with our $30 discount each, it paid for our YHA joining fees - a bargain indeed!  and including magnificent views all around the lake of Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and jagged peaks and snow in all directions.

FRESH SALMON

Stopped on the way here at a great Salmon Farm - fed the fish and then bought some fresh smoked salmon and had a picnic beside the lake and farm - magic!

Weather, Queenstown, haircuts, birthdays and tennis

WEATHER

Seems to be the major topic of conversation here - with the satellite picture of the whole of the UK under snow - amazing sight!  So you will all be pleased to know, as you shiver and slip and slide, that the summer here is pretty rubbish too - so we can't regale you with tales of shorts and t-shirts, but rainwear and fleeces!  You can see from these photos of Lake Wanaka the snowstorms in the background one day and

the next day with the "proper" views.

QUEENSTOWN - PARTY TOWN

Another trip tip - don't stay at Queenstown if you are over 26 (or possibly 21) - great for a day wandering and enjoying the wonderful views - and if you want a  night (even 10 minutes out of town) of disco beats, partying kids and traffic.  Try Arrowtown or Glenorchy - this sign says it all

a great place to stay - small, great views, start of long distance tramps but also lovely short walks.  Paradise is the name of a little place just beyond Glenorchy - says it all.

TENNIS

Got into Wanaka (expecting 5 days sun as it should be - it hasn't been!) and found ourselves next door to great tennis club, with their week long open tournament on - and the Vets mixed the next day.  So after an hour practice with hired rackets and walking shoes and cobbled together tennis "gear" (looked a bit like kids on the block!) we had a great days tennis and made the semis with some excellent tennis and some great people and welcome.  Ideas for our club - clubhouse with lounge and large screen TV with tennis on, kitchen and food on sale (by team of volunteers - a lot of the club is very similar to Heversham in terms of people), outdoor decking overlooking 10 courts (mixture of surfaces to suit all ages!), tables and chairs and umbrellas and BBQ - and a local winery donating dozens of bottles as prizes for the winners - A great place recommended for all you tennis players visiting Wanaka.

HAIRCUTS AND BIRTHDAYS

Christine will be please to know that we have tidied ourselves up - see Graham's new look compared to his last one with the ice cream - but his diet is still on-going, as seen by the huge birthday breakfast in front of him.  It was our first "going out" breakfast in 2 months, so was probably well deserved!

However - our haircuts in Queenstown have given us some new ideas for Christine - a full length reclining and massaging chair whilst washing and a head massage from a lovely young Thai girl - as well as excellent haircuts.  Graham is seriously thinking of coming out here every 6 weeks for his cut and beard trim in future!

What New Year Resolutions?

Eat more!

Drink more (New Years Eve)!

Travel more (Stewart Island)!

But not on this boat (Ferry to SI)

Stewart Island was a great place for birds (well, Ulva Island, just off SI was), lovely little beaches and bush walking - but the 1 hour ferry crossings are not to be recommended - thank god for Stugeron, I say!

Our cottage was great - if it was 1970!  Shelia's look says it all - the 2 gas rings and microwave weren't really what she was hoping for with all her great culinary skills - so we had to cope with eating out for the 3 other nights - easier said than done!

They use to say NZ was 30 years behind the UK (not any more) - but SI certainly is!  Four places to eat - 2 of which had closed down - a brilliant fish & chip cart, good hotel for NY Eve + 1 grocery shop and a couple of arts and crafts shacks - and that's it.  If you aren't interested in birds or fishing - then give it a miss!  

We walked 4-5 hours a day and avoided most of the squally showers - but we wore all the fleeces and clothes that we would have been wearing back in the UK.  An experience indeed!